Astral Online: Cursed by the Demon Lord to Become the Strongest Beautiful Girl, I Rapidly Grow and Dominate with Cheat Skills Despite Being the Weakest Profession - Chapter 243
Chapter 243: The Earth Archangel
A tornado of negative magic swirled, kicking up sand and swallowing the stray monsters crawling across the ground, erasing them from existence.
It was a horrifying scene, as though the sandstorm itself had a will, hunting and devouring prey on the surface.
Yet, even that fearsome sandstorm couldn’t so much as touch the barrier encircling the Sixth Village. The moment it came into contact, it was repelled entirely by the shrine maiden’s power, its energy scattered and naturally dissipating.
It was truly a vision of hell.
Amid this chaos, advanced players laughing maniacally, yelling “Hyahaha!” raced toward the village in a dangerous game of chicken. Their behavior made it abundantly clear that some screws were loose.
—Though, to be fair, walking toward the village ourselves because carriages can’t approach isn’t exactly normal either.
“This area usually has a calm climate, disasters of this magnitude don’t happen here.”
“My ?Insight? skill tells me this is the Calamity of Gluttony leaking out.”
Running alongside her, I gripped the hilt of Silva Avnir. The tornado had cleared the path of monsters, but the battlefield awaited deep within. I had to be ready to go all out at a moment’s notice.
“What about the villagers? Are they safe?” I asked.
“You don’t need to worry,” Setsuna replied. “The village chief saw the approaching storm and evacuated everyone before Rasetsu arrived. They should be sheltered in a nearby village by now.”
“So, the battlefield is within the village, and we can fight without holding back, right?”
Hearing Setsuna’s explanation, Kuro let out a relieved sigh.
“In other words, releasing the Calamity from Princess Rasetsu is essential for a happy ending,” Kuro said.
“…Leave it to me. With the shrine maiden’s power, I’ll make it happen,” Setsuna declared firmly.
“It’s great to be motivated, but don’t tense up too much, Princess.”
“Indeed. In this final stretch, calm judgment and the ability to see the bigger picture are paramount. So, let’s take a deep breath,” Shin and Ro offered sound advice to the slightly tense Setsuna.
She didn’t argue, instead relaxing her expression and taking a deep breath as instructed.
“…Thank you for the advice,” she said softly.
“You seem ready now,” Shin noted approvingly.
“Alright, let’s wrap up the small talk. We’re about to enter the village,” Setsuna said.
“Got it. I’ll take the lead from here,” I said, accelerating to the front.
Silently, I sharpened my focus and activated my Insight and perception skills. They spread across the village, pinpointing the storm’s source.
“Found it! Straight ahead, in the center of a large plaza, it’s crouching there!”
“What’s Rasetsu’s condition?”
“Hmm… it looks like she’s emitting that dangerous black toxin. Get too close, and you’ll probably get poisoned.”
“Understood. Leave it to me.”
Setsuna formed hand seals with both hands. A soft white light radiated outward, enveloping and shielding us.
This was the Oni Shrine Maiden’s Blessing. The only protection capable of neutralizing the Calamity of Gluttony’s unique skill, Toxic Hunger.
With this, we could safely enter the plaza.
“Rasetsu, we’re coming for you!”
With Setsuna and me leading the way, the team advanced toward the center of the village, the field for our final showdown.
Voices echoed endlessly in my mind. Malice, distilled into dark, venomous curses, resounded like an unrelenting storm.
—Unforgivable. I will not forgive.
—Those insolent ones who ruined my battle with the Bringer of Light.
—That accursed golden angel… I will kill them, no matter what.
—And for that, give me your body.
—Give it to me. Give it to me. GIVE IT TO ME.
The hatred that Lucifer failed to destroy clung desperately to the physical realm, searching for a vessel to fight.
Beelzebul’s sole desire was revenge against the golden angel who had annihilated him. His ultimate goal was a decisive rematch with Lucifer.
To fulfill the mission bestowed upon him by the Demon Lord, the Calamity latched onto Rasetsu’s body.
“Hah… to think I’d end up possessed by such a vile creep…” Rasetsu murmured, sweat dripping down her face.
She felt nothing. Even as she lay in the village’s center, the most sacred place where holy power converged, she could no longer move a single finger.
“Uriel… even after I went through the trouble of breaking the seal…”
Her eyes fell to the Amber Ring in her hand.
The power of an angel passed down through legend. She had hoped to borrow its strength to expel the monster possessing her.
But what she held was merely a vessel of power, one that only responded to the chosen.
No fragment of the Four Archangels’ consciousness remained within it. Without their will, there was no power to borrow.
“I completely miscalculated…”
Her father had told her to survive.
And yet, here she was, watching her final hope crumble.
“At least… I wish I could have died in my sister’s arms…”
Rasetsu’s body collapsed to the ground, her spirit being consumed piece by piece.
Her senses were shutting down, her mind overwritten by Beelzebul.
“…Sister… help me,” she whispered faintly.
Her vision darkened. Regret filled her heart, regret that outweighed any other emotion.
Even her happiest memories faded as her body failed her.
No, no, no, no, no!
Anything but that! Don’t take away my memories of my sister!
The pain was unbearable, as though her chest were being ripped apart.
She couldn’t stand the thought of forgetting her sister’s beloved face.
Her tears wouldn’t stop, though she could no longer remember why she was crying.
“Sis… ter…”
Wait… who’s Sister?
She sank, deeper into the pitch-black mire. Yet, even as her consciousness faded, her final, desperate plea for help reached out.
Her outstretched hand grasped at empty air—
“—Rasetsu!”
Setsuna arrived just in time, gripping her sister’s hand firmly with both of hers.
The awakened power of the shrine maiden to dispel evil flowed through Setsuna and into Rasetsu’s body.
“Stay with me, Rasetsu!”
Setsuna shuddered at the corpse-like coldness of Rasetsu’s body, but she was still breathing. Barely.
“I won’t let you die. I’ll save you,” Setsuna vowed, pouring every ounce of her strength into halting the encroaching darkness.
Her determination burned brighter than ever, holding the invasion of evil at bay by the narrowest margin.
“Ugh… gah…!”
If I falter, even slightly, my sister will die.
Clenching her teeth, a low growl escaped Setsuna. Even as her own HP began to drop, she relentlessly pushed back the encroaching curse.
She couldn’t afford to lose.
She couldn’t let go.
They had to go home, together, to their parents.
Fueled by that determination, she stood her ground against the curse of the monster capable of destroying a nation.
But it wasn’t enough. Even with her awakened Shrine Maiden powers, all she could manage was a stalemate.
“…If it were just me, I might have lost her. But…”
Setsuna raised her eyes to the sky, where a savior angel with outstretched wings, who had shattered countless moments of despair, descended.
“I’m not alone.”
The angelic Sora dove down with incredible speed, gathering divine power in his left hand before releasing it all at once.
— A celestial force that nullifies all effects on the chosen target.
Seraphic Skill: ?Ain Soph Aur?
The pure white light enveloped Rasetsu, severing the connection with the Great Calamity rooted deep within her.
Released from possession, the Great Calamity’s control was reset, and the Shrine Maiden’s full power expelled it from Rasetsu’s body.
“Ah… Sister… where…?”
With vacant eyes, Rasetsu searched in the wrong direction, unable to recognize Setsuna, who was right before her.
“Rasetsu!”
Tears threatened to spill as Setsuna embraced her injured sister. She poured all her strength into her Shrine Maiden powers, working tirelessly to heal Rasetsu’s injuries, but the damage was severe.
Especially the corruption of her spirit. It was so dire that Rasetsu risked becoming a shell of herself.
As their companions regrouped, it became clear that potions alone couldn’t resolve this.
“Lucifel, isn’t there anything we can do?”
“Master, Uriel’s power might save her.”
“Uriel’s power?”
“The Archangel of Earth governs the support of the mind. With that power, it should be possible to heal the damage she’s suffered.”
“Got it, thank you!”
Sora picked up the Amber Ring, relaying Lucifel’s insight to the group.
“I see. In that case, Shio-san is the ideal candidate,” said Rou.
“Rou, are you sure?”
“Yes. Considering Uriel’s nature, I doubt I’d be chosen. See? The ring doesn’t react to me at all.”
Returning the ring to Sora, Rou stepped aside. Sora passed it to Shio, who, in this tense moment, blushed as she received the ring from her brother.
As Shio gazed at the Amber Ring, it acknowledged her as its master, radiating a restored brilliance thanks to the gems Rasetsu had gathered.
Cautiously sliding the ring onto her finger, Shio was bathed in dazzling light and transformed into her angelic form.
“…Alright, this should work. Setsuna, let’s save her together.”
“Shio-dono…!”
With golden wings and a celestial halo, Shio knelt beside Setsuna, taking Rasetsu’s hand.
She activated her skill—?Uriel Field?.
A blessing of the earth that restored HP, MP, and removed all status ailments within its range.
It healed not only Rasetsu’s body but also her very soul.
Combined with the Shrine Maiden’s powers, Rasetsu’s complexion slowly regained its vitality.
“Sister…”
“You… idiot…”
The light returned to Rasetsu’s once-vacant eyes as she finally recognized the person in front of her as her sister.
The two embraced, tears flowing freely. It was a heartwarming sight for anyone who cherished sibling bonds, but…
“There’s always someone who doesn’t know how to read the room.”
Sora, gripping her sword, glared at the malevolent force gathering in the sky above them.
“LUCIFEEEEEER!”
The defeated monster, vanquished by the combined efforts of angel and Shrine Maiden, used the remnants of its life force to manifest its physical form.
Standing over ten meters tall, its exoskeleton gleamed like armor as the monstrous fly planted its six legs on the ground, spreading six massive wings in a final attempt to crush its foes.
But with the price it paid to materialize, only one HP bar remained.
And standing before it were not only the angelic comrades but also Shino, who had unleashed the power of the Sword Saint.
“This annoying pest needs to be exterminated right here and now.”
“Let’s go, Shio. Time to defeat this monster!”
Thirty minutes later.
The Great Calamity of Gluttony, Beelzebul, was slain in record time thanks to the combined efforts of Sora and Shio.